2017 Maruti S-Cross Facelift Review
Car Tested: 2017 Maruti S-Cross Facelift; Road Test No. 856; Test Location: Udaipur
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 9.90 – 13.20 lakhs (est.)
The Maruti S-Cross continues to offer excellent practicality but with improved quality and style
The SUV and crossover segment is quite unique in India because there are so many different ways companies are serving this very body style. Maruti’s first entry in the UV space (Gypsy aside) was with the S-Cross crossover and although the move seemed bold back then, to retail the car from a premium dealership network, it seems to have worked quite well as NEXA is a success. Now Maruti Suzuki has given the S-Cross a much-needed facelift while also playing around with the engine options. Does this cosmetic uplift boost the desirability of the S-Cross’ biggest chink in the armour?
Motor Quest: Maruti Suzuki first showcased the S-Cross at the 2014 Auto Expo and launched it in India in July 2015, also debuting NEXA. The car got a global facelift last year and gets updates which are less mechanical and more visual.
The Maruti S-Cross looks premium with the new front-end
Exteriors – First things first, there aren’t drastic changes on how the facelifted S-Cross looks especially from the side and rear profile. However, as is with every facelift, more updates are on the front. The front fascia of the new Maruti S-Cross comes across as something fresh. Changes are in the form of a vertically stacked chrome grille, redesigned headlamps with LED DRLs and a redesigned bumper that’s sportier. The headlamps are LED projector units.
The profile of the car remains the same as before with little changes to the side and rear
The new alloy wheels on the S-Cross are quite catchy with two-tone treatment
The satin finish skid plates in the lower bumper and the chrome accents in the fog lamps housing give the S-Cross a premium look, while the muscular bonnet adds a hint of aggression to the front fascia. The side and rear profile remain more or less similar to the pre-facelifted model except for the new 16-inch machine cut alloy wheels and the redesigned LED tail-lights. Other than the regular Pearl White, Caffeine Brown, Granite Grey and Premium Silver shades, the crossover is also available in a new Nexa Blue shade that makes it more appealing.
The interior of the S-Cross feels better put-together now with soft touch plastics
Interiors – The S-Cross is a flagship car for Maruti, and it’s interior shows. The all-black dashboard with satin chrome accents and the hexagonal shaped centre console are all similar to the pre-facelifted model. The leather-wrapped steering wheel features buttons for audio and cruise control. The use of soft-touch plastics adds to the premium feel in the cabin. The SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system takes care of music needs and gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. The instrument cluster dials get minor tweaks. The crossover comes with features like automatic climate control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, reverse parking camera and gear shift indicator.
The facelifted S-Cross is generously loaded and impresses you with its rear-seat space
The cabin of the S-Cross feels better than before and has plenty of space too
The switches carried over from the Swift and Dzire still continue to feature in the facelifted S-Cross. The instrument cluster is easy to read. The large door pockets, magazine pockets and other utility spaces add to better ergonomics of the cabin. Maruti is offering leather seats on the facelifted S-Cross which offer very good support. However, where the S-Cross surprises us is in the rear seat space. There is enough legroom, headroom and the under-thigh support is good too. Surprisingly there are still no rear AC vents being offered.
The boot is large enough making this car very practical
The boot space remains identical to the pre-facelifted car at 375-litres and is very usable and taking luggage in and out is very easy thanks to the low loading bay. The rear seats spilt fold in 60:40 ratio, in case, you need additional cargo space.
The 1.3-litre engine gives average performance to the S-Cross
Performance – The Maruti S-Cross was launched with two diesel engines earlier, both sourced from Fiat, one being the 1.3-litre unit which needs no introduction while the other was the 1.6-litre unit that belted out 120 BHP and 320 Nm, it was quite a fun motor but being imported, was costly. Maruti has now ditched the big 1.6-litre oil burner and the S-Cross is now only available with a 1.3-litre engine.
With the addition of mild hybrid, Maruti has made the S-Cross more efficient
While low-end punch is lacking, the mid-range & top-end is where the action lies
Better known as DDiS 200, this motor, as you guessed it, produces 200 Nm of torque and 89 BHP of power. Changes have been made to this engine, it now gets SHVS aka Suzuki’s smart hybrid tech along with engine stop-start, brake energy regeneration and an integrated starter generator motor which has a mild torque assist function, thereby improving acceleration slightly. The most obvious benefit is a boost in fuel economy from the previously claimed 23.65 km/l to 25.1 km/l.
The Multijet diesel has low-end lag but redlines at 5300 RPM
The 1.3-litre engine is more than up to the job to get the Maruti S-Cross moving as in city conditions, one won’t miss the bigger engine. However, out on the highway, the performance of the smaller diesel mill isn’t in the same league as it is slower to reach to the ton and thereafter as well. One needs to work the gearbox to extract the best from the engine, more so because there is low-end lag and the powetrain only wakes up past 2000 RPM, redlining all the way at 5300 RPM. NVH too isn’t the best and the engine has started to show its age with the drivetrain being quite vocal at high engine speeds. The 5-speed gearbox offers short throws but the shifts aren’t smooth and at times you have to try twice to get to a gear, the clutch is also on the heavier side.
Ride quality of the S-Cross is very good, it’s stable at speed
Driving Dynamics – The Maruti S-Cross isn’t a tall vehicle which makes it drive more like a hatchback than an SUV, yet there is some amount of body roll due to the heavy weight of the car. The vehicle does handle well and can be fun but there is little feedback that the steering offers although still better than the Ciaz. What is fantastic though is the ride quality as the car absorbs most bumps in its stride with ease, only throwing that occasional thud when you suddenly encounter a bad patch at higher speeds. The S-Cross could do with better stopping power and although the tyres have good grip, the feedback from the brake pedal is a bit lacking.
Features like rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, all-round disc brakes add to the S-Cross’ safety quotient
Safety and After Sales Service – Dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child mounts come standard across the S-Cross range, kudos to Maruti for that. However, there are no side and curtain airbags like the European-spec S-Cross which scored a full 5 stars in the Euro and ASEAN NCAP crash tests. However, the S-Cross facelift also gets all 4 disc brakes. We all are aware what is the reach of Maruti’s network in India. A service centre can be found even in the remotest of areas. However, the S-Cross facelift will retail only through the NEXA channel, which is quite less in number when compared to the regular Maruti dealerships.
The S-Cross is the flagship car from the company and Maruti’s best car yet
Verdict – The Maruti S-Cross is the flagship car from India’s largest car maker and although the least selling car from the company, it still is the best one can buy from the Indo-Japanese firm. While not a very engaging car to drive and the lack of the 1.6-litre engine robs away the thrust we were so addicted to, there is no denying, the 1.3-litre engine accounted for 95% of sales. With the facelift, Maruti has given the S-Cross more appeal inside-out and while the hybrid system has no benefits from the government, it does make the S-Cross more frugal. All in all, the S-Cross has now become desirable and practical.
Maruti and its suppliers have spent Rs. 100 crores on this facelift
What’s Cool
* Maruti’s wide sales and service network, can service this car anywhere
* Updated front-end makes the S-Cross appealing to many
* SHVS tech has made this car more frugal with less emissions
* Fantastic ride quality and good ground clearance makes it apt for India
* Seats offer excellent support, leather feels nice too
* Loaded with a ton of features, as one would expect from the flagship Maruti
What’s Not So Cool
* The 1.6-litre engine will be sorely missed
* 1.3-litre engine has just about adequate performance
* Steering lacks feel, isn’t as fun as it should be
* Brakes could offer more feel and confidence
* Gearbox isn’t smooth, offers a notchy feel
Alternatives: Ford EcoSport, Honda WR-V, Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano
Will you miss the torquey 1.6-litre engine?
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Further Reading –
Maruti S-Cross Video Review
2015 Maruti S-Cross Review
Maruti S-Cross vs Ford EcoSport vs Renault Duster